“Stop!”
Stunned, the enemy and us, two sides looked up, Wang Xuanshu appeared on the top of the wall and jumped down at an angle; he stood in front of Kou Zhong to shield him, spread out his arms, and spoke, while trembling in anger, “We all are of the same side, Huangxiong [emperor brother] must not fight.”
Staring fiercely at his younger brother, Wang Xuanying spoke heavily, “What are you doing here? You have the cheek to come meddling in my affair, helping outsider not helping your own [from Baidu; orig. hand finger bends outside not bends inside], are you rebelling?”
Wang Xuanshu did not back down at all; he said, “I am on Fuhuang’s order to come here to pick up Shaoshuai into the palace.”
Inside his eye socket, Wang Xuanying’s eyeballs were rolling in to the left and right randomly, it was quite half a day later that he waved his hand and said, “Let’s go!” Finished speaking he angrily led his men to leave.
Rong Jiaojiao helplessly followed the troops out. Before leaving, she cast a glance to Kou Zhong, her eyes were brimming with bitter resentment, Kou Zhong merely sent her off with a smile.
Wang Xuanshu waited until his older brother left, his entire body, like the air inside him was deflated – trembled; breathing rapidly, he said, “How dangerous!”
Grateful, Kou Zhong put his arm around his shoulder and said, “You came in time, if not, I would be forced to open wide the prohibition against killing.”
Having just recovered from a shock, Wang Xuanshu said, “Seeing Rong Jiaojiao was coming to see Huangxiong, I knew things were far from good, hence I immediately galloped over; if I missed it, it would have been too late.”
Stunned, Kou Zhong asked, “Didn’t your Fuhuang send you here to pick up Shaoshuai into the palace?”
Smiling bitterly, Wang Xuanshu said, “If I did not say that, how could Huangxiong be willing to give up and leave? Other than Fuhuang, Huangxiong does not give a damn about anybody else.”
Hearing that, Kou Zhong’s brows were deeply furrowed. Wang Xuanshu wholeheartedly supported him, yet he was going to assassinate his old dad. Ay! What the hell is going on here? He said, “You offended your Huangxiong for my sake, I’m afraid in the future your days will be very difficult to pass.”
Wang Xuanshu shook his head resolutely and said, “I am not afraid! Currently in the palace I am the only one who understand that Shaoshuai really wants to help us to repel the Li Family’s army’s punitive expedition to the east.”
Kou Zhong sighed and said, “Have you ever thought that after repelling the Li Army, we might become enemies? It is precisely because he is thinking like this that your Die is not willing to trust me.”
Wang Xuanshu helplessly replied, “Shaoshuai is the kind of hero and warrior who refuses to acknowledge allegiance to anybody, we all understand. The matter of the future, we will talk in the future. If I were not Fuhuang’s son, I would definitely throw my lot to Shaoshuai. That experience of defeating Li Mi in the past, Xuanshu never forget even for a moment.”
For the first time Kou Zhong regretted that he agreed to Yang Gongqing and Zhang Zhenzhou to assassinate Wang Shichong. If he followed his original plan of assisting Wang Shichong to beat back Li Shimin, when the war to contend for hegemony against Wang Shichong broke out in the future, his heart would be much more comfortable. If he assassinated Wang Shichong, how could he face Wang Xuanshu, the gentleman who revered him before his eyes? Thinking to this point, he really did not dare to continue his train of thought.
Wang Xuanshu said, “It’s almost time for morning imperial court! We must immediately rush into the palace.
The contradiction was too painful that Kou Zhong nearly wanted to leave immediately, yet he knew that he must not do that. Sighing inwardly, he followed Wang Xuanshu.
Xu Ziling reported his name as Yong Qin. After a short wait, Ji Qian came out to meet him. The somewhat unique courtyard residence of the most popular famous courtesan in Chang’an was located at Taiping Lane, on the eastern bank of Qingming Canal. There was a sparse forest inside the courtyard, quiet, secluded, and elegant, displaying her status and dignified air, which surpassed ordinary courtesans.
Ji Qian received him in the inner hall. She was wearing a downhearted expression, an exhausted look as if she had just spent a sleepless night, so that Xu Ziling’s heart broke just by looking at her. After serving the tea, she dismissed the maids from the hall. The two were sitting across each other around the table. Dispirited, Ji Qian said, “What do you want? I would never learn that kind of technique of yours in this lifetime, and now I have not the slightest bit of interest in you.”
Xu Ziling asked in astonishment, “In that case, why was Xiaojie willing to grant this interview?”
Ji Qian’s expression turned grave, she spoke heavily, “Because I want to understand one thing. This name, Yin Xiaoji, where did you hear it from? Why did you unexpectedly come to me to inquire about it? It can’t be as simple as because both of our names have this ‘Ji’ character in it? Ji Qian is simply my stage name in the pleasure house, you know that, right?”
Xu Ziling calmly said, “I really did not lie to you. Yin Xiaoji is the name of my friend, who is called Yin Xianhe’s long-lost Meizi. I wonder if Xiaojie has any impression toward this name, Yin Xianhe?”
Ji Qian replied impatiently, “This is the first time that I heard such a strange name. Quickly answer me, Chang’an has people by the thousands and tens of thousands, yet you clearly came to me to ask about this person, Yin Xiaoji.”
Steeling his heart, Xu Ziling replied, “Because of Xiaojie’s occupation and your desire to learn gambling skills, which seems to be to deal with a certain person. Zaixia will no longer hide anything. Yin Xiaoji’s disappearance was closely related to certain Jianghu secret society. When Yang Guang was still alive, this secret society was his hunting dog, specializing in the shady business of abducting women, running casinos and pleasure houses. Does Xiaojie understand what I mean?”
Ji Qian’s breathing became urgent, she looked at him in a daze for a moment, but she remained speechless, a clear sign that Xu Ziling’s words have stirred up a great shock echoing inside her fragrant heart.
Xu Ziling candidly said, “If Xiaojie has any load on your mind, do not hesitate to speak it out, as long as it is within my capabilities, I will surely accomplish it for Xiaojie.”
Shaking her head, Ji Qian said, “I never trust gamblers. Aren’t you a gambler? Not only that, you are the most brilliant gambler that I have ever seen.”
Smiling wryly, Xu Ziling said, “You might not believe it, but I do not have the slightest interest in gambling. I learn how to gamble because I want to deal with someone from this secret society. How could I make Xiaojie to trust me?”
He had a faint feeling that somehow Ji Qian had information pertaining to Yin Xiaoji, she might even know her; therefore, he was hoping that he could persuade Ji Qian.
Ji Qian spoke with a cold laugh, “How would I know that you are not someone sent by that secret society to sound me out? You are such a secretive person, from the beginning I never trust you; I loathe you.”
Feeling big headache, Xu Ziling frowned and asked, “Who is the person that Xiaojie trust?”
“Why should I tell you?” Ji Qian responded in displeasure, “The coincidences in this matter are chilling! Get lost for me! I don’t want to see you again.”
Xu Ziling was greatly interested instead; he smiled and said, “Xiaojie, please do not casually ask me to leave, everything can be carefully discussed. Who actually Xiaojie can trust? For example: Li Jiancheng, Li Shimin, or perhaps the ‘Passionate Prince’ Hou Xibai?”
Ji Qian’s tender body slightly trembled, she looked him up and down again, as if she had just met him. Her pretty eyebrows lightly knitted, she asked, “Do you know them?”
Xu Ziling replied, “I just casually gave you a few examples, if Xiaojie is willing to tell me whom you trust, and by chance Zaixia knows them, then you could verify with them whether I am really a person that you can trust.”
Letting out a cold snort, Ji Qian said, “You are not talking drivel casually. At least Hou Xibai can’t possibly talk drivel casually. Very well! Go find Hou Xibai for me to verify that you are indeed innocent! Other things, I don’t want to continue listening to you.”
Kou Zhong and Wang Xuanshu rode side-by-side up the Tianjin Bridge. At the bottom of his heart, he was completely at a loss.
Coming to Luoyang this time, was it a mistake?
He originally thought that the useless Wang Shichong would, because he was facing a powerful enemy, accept his proposal, just like the last time they were dealing with Li Mi. Who would have thought that the actual situation was not so? He was also being drawn into Luoyang’s own political struggle, so that he fell into the present no-room-to-advance-or-to-retreat situation.
Demonic school’s attitude in wanting to deal with him, plus they want to deal with him quickly – was another worry, so that he could not focus his mind to deal with Li Shimin’s main forces pressing down on their territory. However, he already had his feet deep into the mud, so that he was without the freedom to act independently.
The still-have-not-shown-themselves Da Ming Zun Jiao from outside the Great Wall was another secret concern; it could catch him off guard that he might fall into the danger of having himself killed.
If right now he turned back and galloped out of Luoyang, what would happen?
This idea generated huge attractive power in his heart, but he also knew that by doing this, it would be akin to giving up the struggle against Li Shimin, which would give his reputation an even graver blow.
The palace gate was in sight.
Clearly the guards were reinforced, the soldier’s copper saucepan [used for cooking food by day and for sounding the night watches during the hours of darkness (in ancient times)] was tightened, brimming with tense atmosphere of mountain rain about to come.
Wang Xuanshu leaned closer and spoke in low voice, “If later on Fuhuang blames Shaoshuai for breaking into the Rong Mansion last night, I wonder if Shaoshuai could make a concession or two? I know that in his heart, Fuhuang is still relying heavily upon Shaoshuai.”
Kou Zhong sighed and said, “Relying heavily?”
Wang Xuanshu spoke seriously, “I did not build words to curry Shaoshuai’s favor, since Shaoshuai honors us with your presence, our Great Zheng Army’s morale is better than before, therefore, Fuhuang ignored Huangxiong’s opposition and decided to have Shaoshuai participates in this morning’s swearing-in ceremony.”
Stunned, Kou Zhong said, “Isn’t it a military meeting? How come it suddenly turns into a swearing-in ceremony?”
Wang Xuanshu spoke awkwardly, “After the news of Xin’an has fallen, the meeting last night has already reopened! Therefore, this morning it is only moving an army and sending a general [idiom], to set up their duties – meeting.”
Kou Zhong mused wouldn’t it mean that even Yang Gongqing and Zhang Zhenzhou were rejected outside the Wang clan’s family and relatives meeting? With such an attitude, it would be strange indeed if the various generals of different surnames did not surrender to the Tang.
What else could he say? As he followed Wang Xuanshu into the Imperial City, he began to realize that he had missed the last opportunity to storm off in a huff.
Could he assassinate Wang Shichong?
Xu Ziling hurriedly returned to the Passionate Nest. As he stepped into the hall’s door, not only his excited mood immediately cooled off, it even sank to the bottom.
Shi Zhixuan, with his back to him, was leaning against the window, gazing at the small garden plot at one side of the courtyard, as if he did not know that Xu Ziling has come back.
Xu Ziling’s scalp went numb, he stood by the door, and asked in heavy voice, “Where’s Xibai?”
Shi Zhixuan replied indifferently, “My disciple is very good, thank you for Ziling’s concern.”
Xu Ziling could not hear any sound from the inside, rage was welling up in his heart, he took a few steps forward and stopped behind Shi Zhixuan. “Did you execute him?” he asked coldly.
Shi Zhixuan slowly turned around, the strange light in his pair or eyes was flickering, he looked at Xu Ziling up and down and said, “You are very concerned about your friend, why aren’t you concerned about yourself?”
Xu Ziling secretly gathered his power and focused his spirit, so that his mind returned to its tranquil state. He said, “Qianbei has not answered my question, is Xibai dead?”
Shi Zhixuan looked up to the sky and laughed calmly. With his hands behind his back, he walked over toward Xu Ziling, straight toward his left side, as if he wanted to study the lines of Xu Ziling’s profile from the side; he said, “I told you to go to Bashu to see Qingxuan, why didn’t Ziling respect my feeling?”
Xu Ziling remained silent.
Shi Zhixuan let out a cold snort of displeasure. He took several steps forward, so that back to back, the two were separated only by about a five-pace distance. Shi Zhixuan calmly halted his steps and spoke heavily, “This is called wedding toast you don’t want to drink, you drink as the result of having lost a bet. I, Shi Zhixuan, am able to move unhindered across the land under heaven, I have never been lenient to anybody I want to kill; however, remembering Qingxuan, I am giving you, Xu Ziling one last chance. You have to leave Chang’an within three days, otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”
Xu Ziling spoke slowly, word-by-word, “Where is Xibai?”
Shi Zhixuan’s voice turned cold, he also spoke slowly, word-by-word, “Idiot!”
Xu Ziling shouted coldly, spun around and sent out a punch to take the initiative to attack this most outstanding martial art master of the demonic school since the beginning of history, because he had no other choice; even if he had to die, he wanted to die in a powerful way, knowing full well that it was impossible but he still had to do it [Baidu says it was from Analects of Confucius].
Only by doing this he would not be ashamed to face his close friend, the Passionate Prince Hou Xibai in the Nine Springs [the underworld of Chinese mythology].
